not the Fiesta that is kept on the top shelf! (Ford Fiesta 1.25 Zetec 3dr)

Member Name: angusreid

Product:	Ford Fiesta 1.25 Zetec 3dr
Date:	19/05/01 (6260 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: cheap, sporty, economical

Disadvantages: squashed

Zetec, the ultimate name in the Ford Dictionary, but what does it mean?

The Ford fiesta Zetec is the sporty model in a long and established range of Fiesta models.

Here is a bit of “Did you know?” for the enthusiast, and even the genuinely interested.

The Fiesta is the most common car on the road in the UK; with an estimated half a million taxed cars being driven around.

Built at Dagenham, Essex, the 1 millionth car rolled of the production line some years ago.

The Fiesta is the last car to be built by Ford in the UK

When production of the fiesta stops, an association of Ford cars and the UK will cease after some 80 years

The Dagenham plant, once the largest in the world was originally marshland.

Fiestas have had roughly 5 shape changes in its life cycle.

They now come in 6 different models, including the diesel.
They are Flight, LX, Zetec S, Freestyle, Ghia and E-Diesel.

Prices start from £6995, up to appx £12,000 top of the range Ghia, with all mod cons and extras.

Right, now this one is about the Zetec model, so lets give you the low down.

Ford Fiesta 1.25 Zetec.

Standard.

Power steering.
Alloy Wheels
Air Con (2000 model year and late 1999 old shape cars only.)
Metallic Paint
Drivers Air Bag
Central Locking
Electric Windows
Immobiliser
Rear Spoiler
Colour Coded Interior
Radio Cassette

Extras
Sun Roof £250
Air Con (1999 and earlier models) £500
5 Door Models £1000
CD £200


Average price of 3 door new £7995 5 door £8995

3 year old model now £4000 Main Dealer
£3500 private

Zetec comes from the Engine which was a jointly pioneered with another car company, possibly Honda, but I cant be to sure, and if someone does remember exactly, leave a mention in the comments, and I will update this with a reference to you.
r>The Zetec engine is made from alloys rather than steel, therefore it is lighter and less prone to rust.
The lighter element gives you a much higher fuel efficiency, and a better all round performance, hence the sporty image, and the fast acceleration.

Performance

Very nippy car, makes for good acceleration around town, and also lane changing on Motorways.
The 1.25 engine is 16v, which equates to a 1400 engine, and even a 1600 engine from 6 or 7 years ago.
Fine, pokey, acceleration up until 80 MPH, where it starts to fizzle slightly.

Handles like a dream, with an advanced chassis that hugs the road.
Corners well, and not too much vibration at speed.
Wheel tends to fight you slightly at high-speed turns, but you would expect this.

Fuel economy is also superb, with over 45 MPG on Journeys, and 34 MPG around town.
Now, with these stats on Fuel, I ask you to take a pinch of slat when reading them.
I am so heavy footed, and always want to accelerate faster than Joe Bloggs in the lane next to me, that my fuel economy is going to be a lot less the Granny Smith in her Zetec, at an average speed of 20 MPH, and the acceleration of a three toed Sloth!
I feel that each person knows his or her limitation when driving, and should bare this in mind when purchasing a car.

Zetec is available in a range of different colours, depending on the year and model etc.
(Just to let you know, Ford have about 3 different model changes a year, in dealer talk, and change certain features, such as air con standard instead of optional. So if someone says your car is a 99.5 model year, that is what they mean.)

Some of the colours that they did were,
Melina Blue
Pacific Green
Panther Black

And so on.

Inside Measurements

Not much room!
I am 6 ft and struggle to move about freely.
Not much room in the back for passengers, and I would only recommend this to be used
for children in the back.
Ideal for a height of up to 5ft 10, no more (in my opinion!)
Headroom is not to bad, but if you fit a sunroof, it is even worse.
Seats are sport type, so comfortable if you are not on the large side.
There is an ashtray!
And a cigarette lighter for plugging your phone charger in.

All in all, a sporty model, very reliable, and one that I would recommend to any couple without children, and on a budget for a small but sporty car.

I think it is group 4 or 5 insurance

Angus